I grew up in Yorba Linda, CA, where I met my husband of 19 years. We were high school sweethearts who decided we must earn our college degrees before getting married. Thus, I graduated first with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cal State, Fullerton. ;)

After working in the Southern CA aerospace industry for a few years, and losing my parents in separate auto accidents, the reality of just how short life is hit me hard. I took six months off to take a trip around the U.S. with my husband in a travel trailer. We fell in love with the lush forests of Southern Oregon and moved there shortly after our U.S. tour. I decided to change careers and my eleven years as a domestic engineer raising two charming boys proved more rewarding than any aerospace industry challenge I encountered.

Since I believe balance is good in life, and funds to pay bills even better, I returned to my original career. I have been working as a mom and Quality/Test Engineering Manager for a successful tool manufacturer during the past six years.

I also have an insatiable creative side curbed by such hobbies and passions as cooking, cake decorating, cross-stitch, china painting, and....writing.

I started in 2005 spending time to finish my first novel. I began thinking this project would provide a marvelous means to merge my creative and technical talents. Throughout this first writing experience I discovered an incredibly pleasurable and gratifying way to stimulate my technical mind and creative soul.

I discovered I love engineering plots and storylines far more than bench top tools…so I’m hoping to transition to full time author in the very near future. I’d love to be known as the engineer who has tossed away her scientific calculator in favor of writing sizzling romances!

OMG!!! Quick!...Go take a look at my 12/24/07 entry regarding abundant income, then come back.

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Oh goodness, I really haven't done much writing in the past year. I put the dream of being a best-selling romance author on the back burner. Sketched out the outlines to a couple new novels, but just mentally couldn't commit to writing them up for whatever lame reason. Yes, last year's sickness and death of my mom-in-law was a good excuse, but I admit...an excuse.

I decided to focus on my engineering career after receiving a few rejection letters. Damn it! I've been to the past two years of RWA conferences - you'd think the message would have sunk in! I know better. I know it requires me to not give up on the dream of becoming a writer. It takes writing each day and eventually I'll have a collection of works under my belt. This way, eventually, when I "make it" I'll have a whole juicy portfolio of work to offer a publisher. I've heard the best in the industry say this very thing to my face: Nora Roberts, Christina Dodd, Shelley Bradley, Debra Dixon, Julie Garwood...the best! I know better!

So right now I'm banging my head with a frying pan. Why? I just received notice I'm being laid off! Times are grim in the small tool industry....VERY grim. Thus, it looks like I've goofed up big time on my 12/24/07 blog entry. I wished for my friends, I wished for my family, but I forgot to include myself in that wish of "abundant income"!

Ahhh, but did I? Life has showed me so many numerous times things seem to happen for a reason. A career as a Quality and Test Manager takes SERIOUS brain power. Too much actually. All the technical reporting and focus has managed to suck the energy from me in my spare time and prevented me from pursuing my real passion....writing romances!

So maybe, just maybe...this lay off couldn't be coming at a better time and the best is yet to come this year? I can't wait to find out!